Summers in Metro Atlanta get hot and due to our proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, it also means humidity, and plenty of it. It can get “as thick as pea soup” a lot of the time, and can make otherwise beautiful days, miserable. It’s not only miserable for humans, but homes and other building’s are affected by it as well.
Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air that causes that “hot and sticky” feeling and once it hits a cool surface reverts back to liquid form and becomes condensation. It’s this condensation that left unchecked, can cause damaging problems which lead to leaks and other moisture damage. Especially in homes that aren’t properly ventilated, humidity causes thousands of dollars in damage to homes and other buildings every year.
How can humidity damage your home?
At night, roof temperatures can rapidly decrease below the ambient air temperature, this sudden drop in roof temperature increases water vapor in the air. Water vapor causes wooden structures to swell, as water is readily absorbed. The cycle continues as the next day arrives and the higher temperatures evaporate the absorbed moisture, causing the affected structure to shrink, causing more problems.
Controlling humidity levels is critical to the health of your home and your happiness. Fortunately, these days there are a wide variety of devices to measure and control humidity.
If you know or suspect you may have a problem with humidity, roofing contractors such as Atlanta Roofing Specialists have the equipment necessary to measure the suspected area and recommend installing something like a humidistat and dehumidifier to solve the problem. The best way to control humidity levels is to monitor them using the humidistat (like a thermostat but for humidity), a dehumidifier, and most importantly, proper ventilation in every room, especially areas like kitchen and bathrooms that generate their own humidity.
As humidity is a widespread problem, especially here in the South, the roofing industry has developed moisture resistant and energy saving solutions to combat the problem. Moisture penetrates your roof in two ways. one is through the membrane or edge detailing failures, the other is exposure to different weather conditions.
Atlanta Roofing Specialists installs waterproof membranes to prevent water penetration, while air-conditioning units generally regulate the internal humidity levels. Some homeowners can even install dehumidifiers and moisture resistant membranes for that extra layer of protection.
While not isolated to the roofing structure, humidity is bad for your family as it can have negative effects on your health. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) suggests humidity levels should be in the range of 35% – 50%. If you suspect you may have problems with humidity or leaks caused by humidity call Atlanta Roofing Specialists at 770-419-2222 today!